Don Heckman: Robert Davi sings Sinatra

The songs, the singing and the sheer presence of Frank Sinatra are among the greatest memories of popular culture. Still a vivid element in the soundtrack of American life – even in an era of rap and hip hop – his musical contributions find new life in their interpretations by performers such as Robert Davi.

Although the 6-foot-2-inch Davi may be considerably taller than Sinatra – his idol and mentor – their musical similarities will become clear the minute he strides on stage, at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, March 23, in a program of tunes from his album, "Davi Sings Sinatra: On the Road To Romance."

You've seen Davi before, but probably not in this setting. As a highly regarded actor, he's played dozens of gripping characters in more than a hundred films and television shows, working alongside the likes of Marlon Brando and Clint Eastwood.

Among his most memorable achievements was the role of Franz Sanchez in the James Bond film "License To Kill," viewed by many as the most convincing of all the Bond villains.

Perhaps closest to his heart, however, has been the singing career that began to surface as early as his teen-age years. Even then, he was deeply inspired by Sinatra. There are, of course, dozens of Sinatra imitators and simulators. But what Davi does is a whole different matter. A tribute? Yes, indeed; all that and more. His affection for the artist whom he's admired since he was a kid is ever present.

Davi remembers his first encounter with Ol' Blue Eyes. It took place shortly after he was cast in his first film role, in the Sinatra-starring picture "Contract on Cherry Street."

"That's when I met him," recalls Davi, his words still tinged with echoes of his New York-born accent. "Up until then, he was only in photos on the walls of my house. You know what they say about Italian houses. Two great pictures in every house: the Pope and Frank Sinatra. Not necessarily in that order."

Their first encounter took place on the set, while Davi was sitting in a truck, waiting for the camera to roll.

"I'm sitting there, getting into character. And suddenly I see Sinatra coming toward me. He looks up at me and he says, 'I saw your audition tape the other day. You're terrific.' And then we became friends."

It was a friendship that continued, enhanced by supportive gestures from Sinatra. When he discovered that Davi who – like many ambitious young actors – had been working as a waiter prior to being cast in "Contract On Cherry Street," and then been fired from the job, Sinatra took action.

"One night, after a month and a half of shooting," says Davi, "I get a knock on my door. It's Harry Guardino. And he says, 'C'mon, the old man wants to take you to dinner.' So I come down, get in the car with Harry, Jilly Rizzo, Sinatra and myself. We drive uptown and pull up in front of Fiorello's, the restaurant I was fired from. I look at Harry, and I look at Frank. And Sinatra just smiles and says, 'C'mon. Let's eat.' And we had a great dinner, with the management and the servers tripping all over themselves."

Memories of that friendship continue to inspire Robert Davi. His eagerness to keep the Sinatra canon alive and well will be apparent in every phrase of every inimitable song he sings at his Redondo Beach appearance Saturday night.